★★★☆☆ Review: Telephones by New Opera Singapore

Twin operas about the telephone explore their impact on love and human relations. These days, everyone has a smartphone in their pocket, a device we can’t possibly live without. And even though they’ve long moved past simply being a means to call, with a flurry of social media apps and rapid back and forth texting, they remain as integral and disruptive as they’ve ever been, … Continue reading ★★★☆☆ Review: Telephones by New Opera Singapore

Esplanade’s The Studios 2022: An Interview with Claire Wong and Noorlinah Mohamed on ‘Recalling Mother’

Since they first met on the set of Theatreworks’ production of Beauty World in 1999, fellow theatremakers Claire Wong and Noorlinah Mohamed have remained fast friends to this day. Not only do they frequently hang out to chat over a meal or drink, the two also spend time sharing their innermost thoughts with each other, telling each other the stories of their families, musing on … Continue reading Esplanade’s The Studios 2022: An Interview with Claire Wong and Noorlinah Mohamed on ‘Recalling Mother’

★★★★☆ Review: Berak by Teater Ekamatra

Chong Tze Chien’s Poop! takes on new life for a Malay audience. According to the Islamic faith, a person commits suicide is sent straight to hell. Yet, within Malay culture, there remains the belief in the existence of hantus and lingering spirits that remain earthbound even after death. Does that then suggest there are alternative means to think about what lies after death, and use … Continue reading ★★★★☆ Review: Berak by Teater Ekamatra

★★☆☆☆ Review: Surviving Hope by The Flux Media

Clash of ideas turn a simple family melodrama into overwrought fever dream. Looking at the rising divorce rates in Singapore and around the world, it is all too easy to blame it on flaky couples who lack commitment, precluding the collapse of the institution of marriage and the family unit. But the reality is, relationships are much more complicated than simply signing a paper, and … Continue reading ★★☆☆☆ Review: Surviving Hope by The Flux Media

See You, Anniversary: An Interview with Nelson Chia and Mia Chee on Nine Years Theatre and relationships

In the world of dating, finding your other half is often easier done from within the same industry. And for Nelson Chia and Mia Chee, who’ve known each other for over 20 years now, love came naturally for the two of them over their shared experiences in theatre. “We were actually both in NUS Theatre Studies at the same time, but in different batches, so … Continue reading See You, Anniversary: An Interview with Nelson Chia and Mia Chee on Nine Years Theatre and relationships

Review: Declutter Me! by Grace Kalaiselvi

Letting go and moving on, one object at a time. According to Japanese decluttering consultant Marie Kondo, the key question one must first ask before deciding to keep or toss a physical object is “Does it spark joy?” But often, that is a query that leads to even further doubts – how do we know if it sparks joy or not? That is the question … Continue reading Review: Declutter Me! by Grace Kalaiselvi

Film Fanatic: The First Singapore-South Korea Co-Produced Feature Film AJOOMMA《花路阿朱妈》To Hold Its World Premiere At The 27th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF)

AJOOMMA 《花路阿朱妈》, the first ever Singapore-South Korea co-produced feature film, will hold its world premiere at the 27th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) on 7th October. It is also the first Singapore film, since Eric Khoo’s MEE POK MAN (1996) and Royston Tan’s 15 (2003), to be selected for competition at BIFF’s well established New Currents competition. Produced by award-winning Singapore filmmaker Anthony Chen and helmed by first-time feature director He Shuming, AJOOMMA will open in Singapore cinemas … Continue reading Film Fanatic: The First Singapore-South Korea Co-Produced Feature Film AJOOMMA《花路阿朱妈》To Hold Its World Premiere At The 27th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF)

Art What!: Hello, Can Everybody See My Screen? at Singapore Art Museum

From 9 September, Singapore Art Museum (SAM) invites visitors to explore how our bodies negotiate and connect with technology at its latest exhibition Can Everybody See My Screen?. Referencing an oft-repeated phrase that emerged from a long period of remote interactions, SAM’s new exhibition at Tanjong Pagar Distripark reflects on how our understanding of lived realities has shifted with the rise and changes in digital … Continue reading Art What!: Hello, Can Everybody See My Screen? at Singapore Art Museum

Arts of Hong Kong 2022: HKAF Announces Tisa Ho’s Retirement from her role as Executive Director and Appointment of Flora Yu as new Executive Director

The Hong Kong Arts Festival (HKAF, or the Festival) has announced the retirement of Ms Tisa Ho and the appointment of Ms Flora Yu as the new Executive Director with effect from 14 November 2022. Chairman Mr Victor Cha said: “We are very grateful for Tisa’s leadership and dedication through the years. We accepted her resignation with regret and respect her wish to move on to the next … Continue reading Arts of Hong Kong 2022: HKAF Announces Tisa Ho’s Retirement from her role as Executive Director and Appointment of Flora Yu as new Executive Director

Staging the Singapore Story: An Interview with director Steven Dexter and actor Adrian Pang on Aiwei and SRT’s The LKY Musical (2022)

In a world of unusual musical concepts, Aiwei and Singapore Repertory Theatre’s (SRT) The LKY Musical probably ranks among the more unexpected ones. Based on the life and times of Singapore’s first prime minister Lee Kuan Yew, The LKY Musical treads a difficult line of having to balance respect for the man’s legacy, chart an accurate and comprehensive enough history of Singapore, and still deliver … Continue reading Staging the Singapore Story: An Interview with director Steven Dexter and actor Adrian Pang on Aiwei and SRT’s The LKY Musical (2022)